C++ is a compiled, general-purpose, case-sensitive, free-form programming language that supports procedural, object-oriented, and generic programming.
C++ is regarded as a middle-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features.
C++ was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell Labs in Murray Hill, New Jersey, as an enhancement to the C language and originally named C with Classes but later it was renamed C++ in 1983.
C++ is a superset of C, and that virtually any legal C program is a legal C++ program.
Object-Oriented Programming
C++ fully supports object-oriented programming,
v Encapsulation
v Data hiding
v Inheritance
v Polymorphism
C++ Program Structure
Â
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
Â
// main() is where program execution begins.
int main() {
  cout << "Hello World"; // prints Hello World
  return 0;
}
- The C++ language defines several headers, which contain information that is either necessary or useful to your program. For this program, the header <iostream> is needed.
- The line using namespace std; tells the compiler to use the std namespace. Namespaces are a relatively recent addition to C++.
- The next line '// main() is where program execution begins.' is a single-line comment available in C++. Single-line comments begin with // and stop at the end of the line.
- The line int main() is the main function where program execution begins.
- The next line cout << "Hello World"; causes the message "Hello World" to be displayed on the screen.
- The next line return 0; terminates main( )function and causes it to return the value 0 to the calling process.
- Primitive Built-in Types
- C++ offers the programmer a rich assortment of built-in as well as user defined data types. Following table lists down seven basic C++ data types −
Type |
Keyword |
Boolean |
bool |
Character |
char |
Integer |
int |
Floating point |
float |
Double floating point |
double |
Valueless |
void |